Reclamation packaging for surgical instrument and related methods

Abstract

A surgical kit includes a surgical instrument, a packaging, and a return packaging. The packaging defines an interior and an exterior in a closed configuration. The surgical instrument is disposed within the interior of the packaging or coupled with the packaging in the closed configuration. The packaging is configured to transition to an open configuration by a user to expose the interior and allow for access of the surgical instrument during a surgical procedure. The return packaging is configured to receive at least a portion of the surgical instrument after the surgical procedure for reduced cross-contamination. The return packaging is at least one of coupled with the packaging or disposed within the interior in the closed configuration.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A surgical kit comprising:
 (a) a surgical instrument that includes first and second portions configured to separate from each other;   (b) a packaging that defines an interior and an exterior in a closed configuration, wherein the surgical instrument is disposed within the interior of the packaging or coupled with the packaging in the closed configuration, wherein the packaging is configured to transition to an open configuration by a user to expose the interior and allow for access of the surgical instrument during a surgical procedure; and   (c) a return packaging configured to receive at least the first and second portions of the surgical instrument after the surgical procedure for reduced cross-contamination, wherein the return packaging is at least one of coupled with the outer packaging or disposed within the interior in the closed configuration, wherein the return packaging comprises:
 (i) a first return package configured to receive the first portion of the surgical instrument, wherein the first return package includes at least one projection configured to positively engage the first portion, and 
 (ii) a second return package configured to receive the second portion of the surgical instrument, wherein the second return package includes at least one projection configured to positively engage the second portion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The surgical kit of  claim 1 , wherein the packaging includes an outer packaging, wherein the outer packaging includes an interior, wherein the return packaging is disposed within the interior of the outer packaging in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical kit of  claim 2 , wherein the return packaging includes a machine-readable code configured to identify the surgical instrument using a code reader, wherein the outer packaging includes a signal blocking feature configured to prevent the machine-readable code from being read using the code reader in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical kit of  claim 2 , wherein the return packaging includes an interior and an exterior, wherein the interior of the outer packaging is formed from a plurality of inner surfaces, wherein an inner surface of the plurality of surfaces includes a repositionable label configured to be coupled with the exterior of the return packaging. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical kit of  claim 2 , wherein the packaging includes a sterile packaging configured to surround the surgical instrument, wherein the sterile packaging is disposed within the interior of the outer packaging in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical kit of  claim 5 , wherein the return packaging is coupled with the sterile packaging or disposed within an interior of the sterile packaging. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical kit of  claim 5 , wherein the return packaging is coupled with the sterile packaging using a frangible portion configured to be severed by a user. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical kit of  claim 1 , wherein the return packaging includes indicia configured to identify the surgical instrument. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical kit of  claim 1 , wherein the return packaging includes a fluid proof seal configured to transition from an open configuration to receive the surgical instrument after the surgical procedure to a closed configuration to prevent fluid from exiting the return packaging. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical kit of  claim 1 , wherein the first return package is coupled with the second return package using a frangible portion configured to be severed by a user. 
     
     
         11 . A robotic surgical system comprising:
 (a) the surgical kit of  claim 1 ; and   (b) an arm configured to couple with the surgical instrument.   
     
     
         12 . The surgical kit of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one projection of the first return package includes a plurality of projections, wherein the at least one projection of the second return package includes a plurality of projections. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical kit of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of projections of the first return package have a different arrangement than the plurality of projections of the second return package. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical kit of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions of the surgical instrument have different dimensions. 
     
     
         15 . A robotic surgical system comprising:
 (a) a surgical instrument;   (b) a robotic arm configured to couple with the surgical instrument;   (c) a packaging that defines an interior and an exterior in a closed configuration, wherein the surgical instrument is disposed within the interior of the packaging or coupled with the packaging in the closed configuration, wherein the packaging is configured to be opened by a user to expose the interior in an open configuration to allow for access of the surgical instrument during a surgical procedure;   (d) a return packaging configured to receive the surgical instrument after the surgical procedure for reduced cross-contamination;   (e) a machine-readable code coupled with at least one of the surgical instrument, the packaging, or the return packaging;   (f) a code reader configured to read the machine-readable code; and   (g) an indicia marking device configured to apply an indicia to the return packaging with the indicia including at least one of a serial number, an expiration data, a unique identifier, a usage, a time of use, or a location of use.   
     
     
         16 . The robotic surgical system of  claim 15 , wherein the packaging includes an outer packaging, wherein the outer packaging includes an interior, wherein the return packaging is disposed within the interior of the outer packaging in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The robotic surgical system of  claim 16 , wherein the outer packaging includes a signal blocking feature configured to prevent the machine-readable code from being read by the code reader in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The robotic surgical system of  claim 15 , wherein the surgical instrument includes first and second portions configured to separate from each other, wherein the return packaging comprises: a first return package configured to receive the first portion of the surgical instrument, wherein the first return package includes at least one projection configured to positively engage the first portion, and a second return package configured to receive the second portion of the surgical instrument, wherein the second return package includes at least one projection configured to positively engage the second portion. 
     
     
         19 . A method of reclaiming a surgical instrument, the method comprising:
 (a) opening a packaging material to expose a surgical instrument and a return packaging contained within the packaging material;   determining first and second portions of the surgical instrument (b) are reusable;   (c) inserting the first portion of the surgical instrument into an interior of a first return package of the return packaging and the second portion of the surgical instrument into an interior of a second return package while the first and second return packages are coupled together; and   (d) enclosing the first and second return packages of the return packaging so that the interiors of the first and second packages are separate and discrete from one another.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising marking the return packaging with indicia including at least one of a serial number, an expiration data, a unique identifier, a usage, a time of use, or a location of use.